When is Luka Doncic's contract with the Lakers set to expire?

Luka Doncic's contract with the Lakers is extended through at least the 2027-28 season.

What has been the Lakers' strategic shift in team building?

The Lakers are now prioritizing winning during Luka Doncic's prime years, aligning the team's future with his timeline.

What are the Lakers' plans for the upcoming summer?

The Lakers plan to use significant cap space and future draft picks to acquire role players and build a championship-contending roster around Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Home / Sports / Lakers Rebuild: Doncic Era Dawns as James Era Fades

Lakers Rebuild: Doncic Era Dawns as James Era Fades

10 Feb

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Summary

Lakers now built around Luka Doncic's timeline through at least 2027-28.
Doncic transformed physique after criticism of conditioning.
Lakers prioritizing winning during Doncic's prime, not James' twilight.

Lakers Rebuild: Doncic Era Dawns as James Era Fades

As of February 2026, the Lakers are actively building around Luka Doncic, whose contract now extends through the 2027-28 season. This strategic shift prioritizes winning during Doncic's prime years, moving away from a focus on LeBron James' twilight career. The team's direction is now aligned with Doncic's timeline.

Doncic's first year saw him average 28.2 points and 7.5 assists, with notable improvements in his physique and durability over the summer of 2025. He has played in 42 of the Lakers' first 50 games this season, demonstrating enhanced resilience.

Despite his consistent high-level performance, the Lakers' moves reflect a desire to acquire more supporting role players. Past attempts to trade for players like Mark Williams underscore this focus. The team aims to leverage significant cap space in the upcoming summer to build a championship-contending roster around Doncic and Austin Reaves.